Unless the Lord Build This House

I am enamored with architecture and the process of construction. Whether new construction or an update to a home, these can be exciting thoughts born from dreams of perfection; architecture styles, functional layouts, and colors palettes. As I stand on the crest of one hill and look to the summit of this potentially completed aspiration, the fulfillment of these mental abstractions, I am full of joy and hope for the embodiment of this future.

Cue the descent of the progression of time (and perhaps some dramatic music? I’m pretty sure this is when “they” insert the transitional dramatic music, whomever “they” are). In order to move from this current location in the direction of this vision, I must begin the trek through challenging realities in the direction of the distant horizon with only the mental image of the vista to guide me. In all honesty, this is the part I think I could do without, yet somehow it has never once worked out that way for me. EVERY time I approach this leg of the journey I remain hopeful that one day it could be possible? Just this once? Maybe? Please?! Pass Go? Collect $200?? A vision realized without the laborious efforts? Ruby red slippers? Click some heels? Yes?

But this is not to be reality (at least not mine). And I ponder, are we able to build muscular strength without any resistance? To create music without keen repetition? To grow in knowledge without study? To know the delectable heat of a fire without any prior friction?

And so it is with our spiritual realities. Psalm 127:1-2 tells us this:

Unless the Lord builds the house,
    those who build it labor in vain.
Unless the Lord watches over the city,
    the watchman stays awake in vain.
² It is in vain that you rise up early
    and go late to rest,
eating the bread of anxious toil;
    for he gives to his beloved sleep.

Did you notice the opening, repeating phrase “Unless the Lord?” God is so good… He just knows that sometimes I’m slow and he’d better go ahead and say things twice so I’ll catch it. Or thrice. Or… well, you get the point. I can run, or walk, or… ok, set my mind on (what? You don’t know me. I COULD run) after many things, but apart from HIS purposes for me, my great dreams and aspirations are only nebulous fluff. And as I’m aging I’m finding that I have less energy and a keen awareness of just how few hours are realistically in a 24 hour day. So I want to spend my time doing the things that will bring me satisfaction, the things he has hand picked for my life, nothing else. You know, the exact opposite of the word “vain,” which is also repeated up there in those verses.

And so God allows the resistances to show up as we descend into the valleys not to torture us, but to make us stronger, increasingly keen, even more mature and wise if we will be willing students. The beauty of this process is that I’m not called to do "nothing;" I am still called to build the house. Still called to watch over my city. But I am also called to rest, to only do what he has purposed for me to do in this season in this place, no more, and no less. HE then is ultimately doing the work of perfecting all these things. I need only harness myself to his strength. I’m learning that an indicator that I’m not harnessed to him is true exhaustion. Not that kind that is resolved with a hot bath, a good meal, and a good night’s rest. The kind that lasts for weeks or months. The kind that is full of feelings of despair over the monotony of life. Of “eating the bread of anxious toil.” These are symptoms of not being in the right harness, of pulling with only my own strength. Do you have any of these? Life suckers instead of life givers? Throw them off!

Friends, only press into the harness he has selected for you. If it is not your custom fit, it will rub you raw and leave horrible blisters, perhaps even scars, if you continue in it. But he tells us that his yoke is easy. His burden is light. As we work alongside of him, we are filled with purpose and strength for the journey. Strength to see the vision fulfilled, the dream realized.

Lord, please protect me today from vainly spinning my wheels (mentally or physically). Help me to be aware of the tasks I’m harnessed to and to remove the ones that aren’t from you. Give me clear direction in these things so that my energies are spent only for your purposes. Let all that I do be done in love, perfectly established by you. Thank you for the sleep of the beloved.

Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”   Matthew 11:28-30

Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong. Let all that you do be done with love.   1 Corinthians 16:13-14

And let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us,
And establish the work of our hands for us;
Yes, establish the work of our hands.  Psalm 90:17